Vitex plant named ‘Bailtexone’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Vitex plant named ‘Bailtexone’ that is characterized by its compact, rounded to upright growth habit, its foliage that is olive green in color on the upper surface and light purple in color on the lower surface, its flowers that are violet in color.

Botanical classification: Vitex trifolia x Vitex agnus-castus.

Variety denomination: ‘Bailtexone’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Vitex trifolia. The new Vitex will hereafter be referred to by its cultivar name, ‘Bailtexone’. ‘Bailtexone’ is a new cultivar of chaste tree grown for use as an ornamental landscape plant.

The new cultivar was derived from a controlled breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Watkinsville, Ga. The objective of the breeding program is to develop a new cultivar of Vitex that is cold hardy with purple foliage. ‘Bailtexone’ arose from a cross-made in 2012 between Vitex trifolia ‘Purpurea’ (not patented) as the female parent and unnamed and unpatented plant of Vitex agnus-castus as the male parent. ‘Bailtexone’ was selected as a single unique plant in 2013 from amongst the seedlings derived from the above cross.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by semi-hardwood stem cuttings by one of the Inventors in Watkinsville, Ga. in 2014. Asexual propagation by semi-hardwood stem cuttings has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Bailtexone’ as a unique cultivar of Vitex.

-   1. ‘Bailtexone’ exhibits a compact, rounded to upright growth habit. -   2. ‘Bailtexone’ exhibits foliage that is olive green in color on the     upper surface and light purple in color on the lower surface. -   3. ‘Bailtexone’ exhibits flowers that are violet in color.

‘Purpurea’, the female parent of ‘Bailtexone’, differs from ‘Bailtexone’ in being hardy in U.S.D.A. Zones 9 to 11; less cold hardy than ‘Bailtexone’. The male parent of ‘Bailtexone’ differs from ‘Bailtexone’ in being a tree with a much taller plant height and a vase shaped plant habit, and in having compound palmate shaped leaves that are grey-green in color on both surfaces. ‘Bailtexone’ can also be compared to the Vitex cultivar ‘PIIVAC-I’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,914). ‘PIIVAC-I’ differs from ‘Bailtexone’ in having foliage that is dark green in color and flowers that are blue in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new ‘Bailtexone’. The photographs were taken of a 4 year-old plant of ‘Bailtexone’ as grown outdoors in the ground in Watkinsville, Ga.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of ‘Bailtexone’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the flowers and foliage coloration of ‘Bailtexone’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized and the color values cited in the Detailed Botanical Description accurately describe the colors of the new Vitex.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of 4 year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in the ground in Watkinsville, Ga. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—June to September in Watkinsville, Ga.         -   Plant type.—Deciduous flowering shrub.         -   Plant habit.—Compact and rounded to upright plant habit.         -   Height and spread.—An average of 165 cm in height and 182 cm             in width as a 3 year-old plant in the landscape.         -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 7 to 9.         -   Diseases.—No susceptibility or resistance to diseases has             been observed.         -   Root description.—160A in color, young roots are fibrous,             older roots become woody.         -   Root development.—An average of 6 weeks at 32° C. for root             initiation and an average of 3 months at 32° C. to produce a             young rooted plant.         -   Propagation.—Semi-hardwood stem cuttings.         -   Growth rate.—Vigorous. -   Branch description:     -   -   Branch shape.—Tetragonal on first year growth and round on             second year growth.         -   Branch color.—Main and lateral branches; first year; 191A,             flushed with N77D, second year; N199B, trunk; N199B.         -   Branch size.—Main branches; first year; 30.8 cm in length, 3             mm in diameter, second year; 66 cm in length, 5 mm in             diameter, lateral branches; 85 cm in length, 1.5 cm in             diameter, trunk; multi-branched and 4 cm in diameter at soil             level.         -   Branch surface.—Main and lateral branches; first year;             covered with tomentulose pubescence, second year; glabrous,             trunk; fine barked.         -   Branch strength.—Young; flexible and strong, mature; easily             broken.         -   Branching.—Freely and multi-branching habit, pruning             enhances lateral development, an average of 12 lateral             branches on a 4-year-old plant.         -   Branch aspect.—Held at angles ranging between 45° to 75°.         -   Internode length.—An average of 6 cm.         -   Vegetative buds.—Opposite in arrangement, sessile, an             average of 1.5 mm in length and 1 mm in width, subglobose in             shape, 174A in color, surface has 2 bud scales covered with             tomentulose pubescence. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf quantity.—An average of 16 per branch.         -   Leaf/leaflet shape.—Leaf ovate, leaflet elliptic to ovate to             lanceolate.         -   Leaf/leaflet size.—Leaf; 6 cm in length and 11 cm in width,             leaflet; an average of 6 cm in length and 2 cm in width.         -   Leaflet/leaflet arrangement.—Opposite, palmate.         -   Leaflet division.—Compound with 3 to 5 leaflets.         -   Leaflet base.—Cuneate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acuminate.         -   Leaflet venation.—Pinnate, upper surface NN137A, lower             surface N77D.         -   Leaflet margins.—Entire.         -   Leaflet attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaflet surface.—Upper surface; glabrous and glossy, lower             surface; tomentulose.         -   Leaflet color.—Young upper surface; 137A, young lower             surface; N77C, mature upper surface; NN137A, mature lower             surface; N77C.         -   Leaflet fragrance.—A spicy aroma when crushed.         -   Petiole/petiolules.—Average of 3.5 cm in length and 2 mm in             diameter, both surfaces tomentulose, upper surface 199A with             a hint of N77D, petioles; average of 1.5 cm in length and 2             mm in width, both surfaces tomentulose, upper surface 199A             with a hint of N77D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal racemose-panicle.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Inflorescences are showy for             an average of 2 weeks, individual flowers last an average of             2 days, self cleaning.         -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 15 cm in height and 6 cm             in width.         -   Inflorescence number.—15 to 20 per lateral branch.         -   Flower number.—An average of 250 flowers per inflorescence.         -   Flower fragrance.—Very fragrant.         -   Flower buds.—Obovate in shape, an average of 7 mm in length             and 4 mm in depth, surface is glabrous, 91A in color.         -   Flower aspect.—Upright to outward.         -   Flower type.—Bilabiate (one larger petal and one 4-lobed).         -   Flower size.—An average of 1 cm in height and 5 mm in             diameter.         -   Petals.—An average of 2, fused at the base to form the             corolla tube, tube; an average of 4 mm in length and 2 mm in             width, 90B in color on both surfaces, lower petal; cupped, 5             mm in length, 3 mm in width, oblong in shape, broad obtuse             to rounded apex, upper and lower surface glabrous, entire             margin, upper petal; 4-lobed, each 3 mm in length, and 2.5             mm in width, oblong in shape, broad obtuse to rounded apex,             upper and lower surface glabrous, entire margin color both             petals; upper surface 90B, lower surface 91B.         -   Calyx.—Consists of 5 fused sepals with acute apices, an             average of 5 mm in length and 2 mm in diameter.         -   Sepals.—An average of 5 petals in a single whorl, fused at             base, elliptical in shape, entire margins, acute apex, both             surfaces are tomentulose, combined an average of 5 mm in             length and 2 mm in width, outer surface N187B in color,             inner surface 143B in color.         -   Peduncles.—Strong, an average of 5 cm in length and 2.5 mm             in diameter, N199B in color, surface is glabrous.         -   Pedicels.—Strong, an average of 5 mm in length and 1 mm in             diameter, 85B in color, surface is tomentulose. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Stamens; 4 per flower attached to the inner base of             the corolla tube, 4 mm in length, glabrous surface, anther             N92B in color, filaments 91C in color, pollen is moderate in             quantity and 155B in color.         -   Pistils.—1 inferior pistil per flower, an average of 3 mm in             length, 1 mm in width, glabrous surface, style; an average             of 3 mm in length and 77C in color, stigma; forked, 1 mm in             width and 155D in color, ovary; 155D in color and 1 mm in             diameter.         -   Fruit and seed.—Drupe; rounded to oblong in shape, 5 mm in             length, 4 mm in diameter, immature color 145B and 178B at             the apex, mature color N200B, each drupe contains 1 seed             that is an average of 4.5 mm in length, 3.5 mm in width,             N199B in color. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Vitex plant named ‘Bailtexone’ as herein illustrated and described. 